DIY with mama saigh: Get ready for spring.

It might not seem like it, but spring is officially FOUR DAYS AWAY! It's time to start thinking about your outdoor garden plans, and liven up your home by adding a little green to your decor. Here are some easy ways to start getting ready for spring, while getting the kids involved. I had so much fun sharing these ideas on The Jason Show this week.

GROW SEEDS IN JARS

Our kindergartener LOVED this project, and it's so easy! Let your kiddos pick out the seeds they want to watch grow, and "plant" them in a mason jar using wet paper towels. You might need to help the kids situate the seeds, so they're pressed up againsts the glass. Keep the paper towels wet, place the seeds in some sunlight, and watch what would actually be happening to a seed underground. Have your kids record the seeds' progress in a journal, so they can see and understand the process of growing healthy food.

EGG CARTON SEED-STARTERS

Green house from IKEA.

Egg cartons are an inexpensive and easy way to get your outdoor garden started, indoors this spring! If you don't have empty egg cartons at home, you can pick them up at your local Fleet Farm. Make sure you poke tiny holes (we used a safety pin) in the bottom of each seed holder for drainage. You'll want to use a good Seed Starting Mix, as your tiny seeds need nutrients to grow. We planted two seeds in each pod, just in case one of the seeds decided not to sprout (make sure you remove one of the plants if both seeds decide to sprout, to avoid a tangling of roots). You'll want to keep the soil VERY moist (we watered every day), and place the seed starters in an indoor place where they will get plenty of sunlight. You can cover each egg carton with plastic (cut the top of the carton off), to create a greenhouse effect, or get a small greenhouse like this one from IKEA for $19.99. Once your seeds start to grow, you'll need to transfer them to your outdoor garden, or another container that will allow its roots to expand. Don't forget to label each carton with the type of seed, as well as date planted.


LADDER HERB GARDEN

We bought this ladder plant stand at IKEA for $39.99, and then picked up some rosemary, basil, cilantro, parsley, and mint plants at Walmart. We used the same Seed Starter Mix to plant each herb in the plant pots. This herb plant ladder adds so much green and life to our dining room, and we always have fresh herbs to use in our cooking.


SUCCULENTS IN LARGE VASES

Succulents are a "fail-proof" plant that can add life and color to your home. They don't need to be watered very often, and they don't need a lot of sunlight. IKEA has a great selection of inexpensive succulents that we use in our home. We planted two small succulent plants in a large vase that we also found at IKEA, using a succulent soil mix that we picked up at Walmart. Succulents don't like their roots sitting in water, so start with a layer of pebbles on the bottom of the vase, and top with soil. Finally, plant the succulents in the soil, and lightly water when the soil starts looking dry.


SUCCULENTS IN MASON JARS

During the holidays and long winter months, I love having candles all around our home (out of the little ones' reach, of course!). But, when spring rolls around, I love the feel of fresh plants and flowers around the house. However, I tend to neglect plants, and they end up dying. In an effort to add some color to our home, I replaced a couple of the candles on our candle holders, with succulents planted in mason jars. These wide-mouth jars that I found at Fleet Farm work perfectly for the size of the small succulents from IKEA. Just follow the same steps as the succulents planted in the large IKEA vases, to create these little beauties.


BALLOON EGGS IN APOTHECARY JARS

I use my apothecary jars from Jo-Ann Fabrics all year round. For Easter this year, I filled them with some DIY balloon eggs and spanish moss. The balloon eggs can be made using pretty much any type of yarn, string, etc. I used a twisted twine from Fleet Farm for this project, but if you prefer more vibrant spring colors, you have a lot of options with this project! First, blow up water balloons to the size of the egg you'd like. Next, soak your yarn/thread in liquid starch (I soaked mine for about 15 minutes). Then, just start wrapping your yarn/twine around your balloon. Once you're done, let the balloon eggs dry for at least 24 hours (it will feel hard when it's dry). Finally, use a sharp object to pop the balloon and remove it, so you're left with a beautiful decorative egg! Use them around your home to add a little Easter flair!